THREE CEOs - Rick Wagoner of GM, Alan Mulally of Ford, and Robert Nardelli of Chrysler – are supporting the beleaguered trade in private jets by refusing to travel by anything else. As ABC news reports: THE CEOs of the big three automakers flew to the nation’s capital yesterday in private luxurious jets to make their case to Washington that the auto industry is running out of cash and needs $25 billion in taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy. Even as their companies fail, Ford and GM CEOs continue lavish lifestyles. Hats off to the trio for reminding the politicos wrestling with the economic crisis what it is Americans are fighting for. It’s the American dream, stoopid. The car industry is in trouble. Larry Webster lists fives reasons for the downturn at the once mighty GM, whose...

The British National Party (BNP) is a small right-wing political party in the UK which has its history based firmly on racism. It has tried to improve its image in recent years, winning a few minor elections at local level, but in the context of national politics it’s a meaningless fringe movement comprised mostly of middle-aged blokes that used to be skinheads and a few nutcases (examples above) that probably get off looking at photos of Eva Braun. In other words, a pathetic motley crew not worth bothering about. Although if you listened to the hysterical trendy lefties that make up today’s UK political and media establishment, you’d think it was the SS and Gestapo having a second coming. Instead of deserved laughter and scorn, the BNP is thereby given attention,...

Al-Qaida delivered its first response to America's election today in a video that used racial abuse against Barack Obama, and said the president-elect did not represent a genuine force for change.The message from Ayman al-Zawahiri, the number two to Osama bin Laden, appeared to be aimed at persuading its own followers that the election of an African-American president whose middle name is Hussein does not really represent a break with the George Bush presidency."America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always," Zawahari said.He resorted to racial slurs to make his point, calling Obama a "house slave" in Arabic who just did the bidding of his white masters....

CLIMATE action. It’s like a snow dance: You have no excuse not to attend the Climate Action Now! rally taking place tomorrow aimed at welcoming President Obama’s new climate policies while, err, forecast snow flurries take place around them. Snow dancing for...

Tony Blair is to co-host a summit on the global financial crisis with President Nicolas Sarkozy in January, in a move likely to infuriate Gordon Brown.Mr Blair's office has been in in touch with the Prime Minister to invite him to the Paris conference, but Mr Brown has so far refused to accept the invitation, with an official saying last night he was still considering his "diary commitments".Sources said that Mr Brown was "relaxed" about the event taking place. However, any attempt by Mr Blair to overshadow Mr Brown's efforts on the world stage is likely to anger Downing Street aides. He has rebuilt his political reputation by claiming to lead the world in tackling the global financial crisis – most recently with a "road map" for financial reform he presented at a G20 summit last...

ON the BBC: “Is Obama black?” Yes. He is black. So let’s move on with the post-racial politics… Kimberly McClain DaCosta Harvard University wonders: One well-known African American writer, Debra Dickerson, famously objected that Obama is not of the people properly defined as “black” on the grounds that because he is not descended from slaves. Ergo, he is not black - at all. Debra… No, never heard of her. Obama is black. Idi Amin was not black. So, let’s move on… The bulk of the people protesting against references to Obama as a black man, however, grant that he is “part” black (by way of his father), but assert that because he also has a white mother it is not “accurate” to call him black. He is “in...

Barack Obama yesterday renewed his promise to make a decisive break with George Bush on the environment, using a summit convened by Arnold Schwarzenegger to promise a "new chapter in America's leadership on climate change".The video appearance by Obama confirmed the Californian governor's role as a global leader on climate change, a position shored up only hours earlier when Schwarzenegger set a bold new target for his state to get a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.In his address, the president-elect accused Bush of failing to show leadership on the issue of climate change. "That will change when I take office," said Obama.He went on to lay out an ambitious agenda, beginning with targets aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Obama also...

“WICHITA, KAN.  - A Wichita, Kansas preacher says he will not remove a message on his church sign that says President-Elect Barack Obama is a Muslim. The sign is staying up despite the fact that Obama is a Christian. The sign at Spirit One Christian Center reads, “America we have a Muslim president. This is sin against the Lord.” Obama supporters reportedly got into a shouting match with parishioners outside the church on Sunday.”   [Article from here.] Although I think it is debatable whether Barack Obama is a genuine Christian or not, and also debatable whether he is a Muslim or not, or an unregenerate New Age interfaith ‘mongrel’ mix [which I think is the most likely] I find this church’s ignorance and short-sightedness outstanding -...

“His grandad ate a Polish missionary” -  Poland’s foreign secretary Radolaw Sikorski on Barack Obama’s Irssh...

George Bush will keep his role as US President under an Obama administration, key Democratic officials are hinting. "The time for partisan rancour is over," Obama transition team co-chair John Podesta says. "President Bush has eight years of valuable experience that this nation can draw on." Democrats have so far been reluctant to assert the mandate given to them in the 4 November elections. Joe Lieberman appears likely to keep his Senate homeland security committee chairmanship, despite campaigning for John McCain. Republican defense secretary Robert Gates could remain in his post after 20 January. And former Bush secretary of state Colin Powell may be offered a position in the new Obama administration. "This administration will hold no grudges," says Podesta. "And have you seen the shit...

NOW we own a piece of history. Can you? Yes you can! Such is the demand the world over for Barack Obama gold plates, historians one and all are limited to taking away just two per visit. The sage advice is to take what’s on offer and if you do need a full setting of six plates, invite your guests to bring their own future heirlooms over. Or why not asks Obama for some of his plates. He has lots of plates and all kinds of crockery in both the White House, Camp David and his chicago mansion and is happy to redistribute.  Some key facts about the Obama Plate: * No stain sticks to these plates. Do what you like to it and it comes shining right back at yer * Coated in a terrorist proof resin, approved by Weatherman technologies * For a small renumeration, Anorak will invite...

IAN Leslie loosk at how the UK media handles Obama and all that post-racial politics. There aren’t even any Jews: Here’s the thing: race isn’t about genetics. At least it’s about a whole lot more than that. Being black or white is about how people see you - and what they call you.  Obama is black because society says he’s black. He’s black to white racists. And he’s black to every black child growing up in America. If that seems arbitrary, then, duh, that’s the problem. Some people come off arbitrarily worse than others. And that’s it. Unless you’re:  Yasmin Alibhai-Brown - she claims it would an insult to Obama’s mother to call him black. Is his mother blind? Rod Liddle: The notion persisted that despite spending ten...

President-elect Barack Obama is threatening legal action against a British man who has been stalking him for more than three years. British police say they are monitoring the activities of the man, David Lammy, 36, who claims to be a close friend of Obama. A spokesman for Obama confirmed that action is being considered. “This guy met Barack Obama once in 2005. Since then he has been bombarding us with letters and phone messages and posting pictures on the internet of himself posing with our client." Lammy, a former schoolboy chorister, also claims to be a Harvard graduate, a Privy Councillor and government minister. "We've never heard of him," said the Prime Minister's office today. Subscribe in a...

MICHELLE Obama is a hero for womankind. And here’s Germaine Greer, she of the “fuck-me shoes” to tell us all about Michelle: The one sour note to resound through the jubilation at the election of Barack Obama was an undercurrent of fear and loathing of the dress Michelle Obama wore on election night. The dress? One blogger complained that she could hardly listen to Obama’s speech “for fear of that dress”; another accused its Cuban-American designer of duping his hapless client into wrapping herself in the Cuban revolutionary flag. It was: …all black with an eye-burning red panel that splattered itself down the front like a geometrical haemorrhage, held in by a criss-cross sash of black. The red extended upwards almost to the neckline, and downwards to mid-thigh,...

Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned. Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton's foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats believe the vetting will be straightforward.Clinton would be well placed to become the country's dominant voice in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected senator for New York, she has specialised in foreign affairs and defence. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.Clinton, who still harbours hopes of a future...

BARACK Obama’s election triggers rush to buy guns. Sales are op 82% on last year. Hurrah! Yes we...

Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton's foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem.Clinton would be well placed to become the country's dominant voice in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected senator for New York, she has specialised in foreign affairs and defence. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.Clinton, who still harbours...

IN the article “Change You Can Conceive In” Newsweek’s Jessica Bennett seeks to discover what babies were conceived at the moment of Barack Obama’s election victory. She’s looking for the Obama baby boomers. Of course, Obama was only elected a few days ago, and what with gestation and all, pregnancies have yet to be bedded down. In any case, he best line appears at the article’s start: The theory is almost too perfect to be true. Barack Obama, the son of politically progressive parents, was born Aug. 4, 1961—almost nine months to the day after John F. Kennedy was elected to the White House. Is it possible Obama was conceived on that historic night? Hey, hone, let’s try the political progressive position. It’s bit like the missionary of old but we get to talk all the way...

Barack Obama met his defeated Republican rival John McCain today to discuss how to work together to roll back some of the most controversial policies of the Bush years.Putting aside the bitter words thrown about with abandon during the election campaign by both sides, McCain flew to meet Obama at his headquarters in the Kluczynski Federal Building, in downtown Chicago.Obama, speaking before the meeting, said: "We're going to have a good conversation about how we can do some work together to fix up the country."He said he also wanted to thank McCain for his service to the country.Asked by a reporter whether he would work with Obama, McCain, who has long favoured a bipartisan approach to politics, replied: "Obviously."Sources on both sides said Obama did not offer McCain a cabinet job but...

Okay, that’s enough of a new dawn, new day. The sun’s risen now, Obama’s not yet in the White House but all that can be said has been said. We’ve just got to wait until January for some action. As David Letterman put it, though – anyone mind if he starts a little early?Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to find even one half-funny joke about the president-elect. I’m not picky or PC – I’ll laugh at anything with a bit of wit to it. But a trawl of the usual sources for these things have come up with nothing better than the following:Q: Why did Barack Obama cross the road?A: To help the other side.That was on a right-wing website where they clearly felt that the Good Samaritan was a commie agent. Doesn’t anyone have any good...

BARACK Obama’s first address to the world. His lips are moving. And to his left we see the green lizard. Ah, yes, dear reader, a lizard. David Icke was right. Lizards are controlling the world…and never so blatantly… I’m Tyrone Rex, and I endorse this...

A double whammy of Goldman Sachs-related news this morning - not only have their chiefs given up their bonuses this year, but ex-Goldman execs in the White House are being investigated for conflicts of interest during the Wachovia/Wells Fargo merger. Gather round, children, and watch them squirm! Around the time executive children start posting their Christmas lists to Santa, execs calculate how much more money to pay themselves that year, and don’t usually have to justify their decisions. But this year, now that major banks are all variously in debt to the American and British people, expect PR exercises for the next few weeks where the banks nobly and explicitly forego their usual obscene bonus-making. The first such exercise has rolled out of Goldman, with this priceless bit of...

Just two weeks after his historic election, Barack Obama yesterday confirmed he would have Republicans in his administration and admitted there were times he did not know where to begin in trying to deal with the enormous challenges awaiting him in the White House.In his first interview since the election, Obama acknowledged the daunting nature of assuming office at a time of war and global economic crisis."The challenges that we are confronting are enormous and they are multiple. And so there are times during the course of a given day where you think: 'Where do I start in terms of moving - moving things forward?'," the president-elect told CBS television.Obama, who appeared with his wife, Michelle, for the interview, told CBS he planned to use the next 64 days before the inauguration to...

THE euphoria over the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America may have died down, but there remains a feeling - on the street, in people’s homes, in cafes and bars - that this momentous event is still percolating through society and will continue to do so for months, probably years, to come. I live in a predominantly black neighborhood in Brooklyn, on the border of Crown Heights, where a race riot erupted in 1991, and Prospect Heights, a small, rapidly-gentrifying area where just a couple of generations ago few whites would consider living. Today, black, white, gay, straight, Jew and gentile co-exist as well as any group of people living on top of each other can. Obama’s election did little to change the geniality that...

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown (pictured above, striding like a false economic messianic colossus along Wall Street in New York) made it crystal clear for the first time yesterday that he wants the Bank of England to cut interest rates still further. He also sent the strongest signal yet that tax breaks for lower-income families and investment in “green” industries will form the centrepiece of this month’s Pre-Budget Report. During a frank hour-long session at a New York think-tank, Mr Brown complained that Europe had been ’slower’ to follow America’s aggressive policy on slashing rates. So there you have it folks - the solution to our economic problems. Give more of our hard-earned to unemployed wastrels to buy booze and smokes in the hope that...

As the man and woman walked slowly towards the war memorial in Chicago last week, the figure of Barack Obama was instantly recognisable. But as the pair hugged after laying a wreath in the ceremony, it was the young woman who caught the attention of the media and whose photograph flashed around the world.It was difficult not to notice her. As the President-in-waiting embraced her, it was clear that she was a double amputee. Rarely has the human cost of America's war in Iraq been so painfully and poignantly illustrated.The woman was Tammy Duckworth, one of the most remarkable figures to emerge from the conflict. Horribly wounded by an insurgent attack, the former helicopter pilot is now part of a wave of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who are returning home and reshaping US politics....

It was a fireside chat for a wi-fi world. Barack Obama yesterday launched his first regular weekly update to the American voters by YouTube. It was an ultra-modern echo of how Franklin D. Roosevelt's regular folksy radio broadcasts, complete with the sound of a fire crackling in the background, helped guide America through the Great Depression.Now Obama is also facing a massive economic crisis and he is reaching out to the American public with a YouTube video. The move is part of a hi-tech revolution in politics that Obama has promised to bring to Washington when he takes office. Technology and the internet are set to be a core part of the new administration, bolstered by Obama's massive online army of supporters.Yesterday, Obama's first video appeared in the form of a response to the...